Koforidua, Nov. 23, GNA – The Gender Coordinator of Actionaid-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mrs Rosaline Obeng-Ofori has observed that no economic and developmental theories of the country could succeed if the needs of women were ignored. She explained that women constituted 51 per cent of the population and, therefore, “to ignore their needs is to ignore the needs and contributions of 51 per cent of the population of the country”. Mrs Obeng-Ofori was speaking at a day’s public forum in Koforidua on Tuesday, in support of the 10 Women Parliamentary Candidates in the Eastern Region.
The forum was organized by ABANTU for Development, a nongovernmental organisation, and the General Agricultural Worker’s Union and sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and IBIS-Ghana. Mrs Obeng-Ofori called for support for the candidates so that the country could have more women representatives in the next Parliament to advocate gender issues.
The President of Women-In-Broadcasting, Ms Sarah Akrofi-Quarcoo called for the rejection of media stereotypes that presented women in bad light.
She referred to the portrayal of women as the source of woes in society in African films.
The Parliamentary Candidates are: Mrs Gloria Adu-Nartey, who is contesting the Okere Constituency for the National Democratic Congress; Ms Alice Boateng of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) for New Juaben North and Ms Doreen Aboagyewa also of the CPP for Ofoase/Ayirebi. The others are Mrs Dedo D. Agyarko-Kusi, Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Lower Manya; Ms Esther Obeng Dapaah also of the NPP for Abirem; Ms Cecilia Kosi Akueter of EGLE, for Lower Manya and Ms Esther Priscilla Korboe also of the EGLE Party for Yilo Krobo.
The rest are: Ms Agnes Akwaeley Adorshie of the People’s National Convention, Upper West Akim; Ms Ronni Nana Esi Botsio, an Independent Candidate for Akropong and Ms Monica Appiah also an Independent Candidate for Akim Swedru.
